Mt. Olive's FPD Saved Local Teens

On Friday, May 24, 2024 at 10:29 p.m., the Macoupin County Dispatch Center (MAC911) received a call from a juvenile in distress. Two juveniles were driving on Lake Ka-Ho Road over Cahokia Creek in rural Macoupin County when the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu they were in was swept off the road by fast moving flood waters.

The occupied vehicle was washed downstream approximately 450 feet into the outside of the tree line along the east bank where the car became submerged. The two juveniles were able to escape the car and they were swept another 250 feet downstream before they were able to get into a tree and call for help.

The Mt. Olive FPD was paged at 10:40 p.m. and mutual aid was requested from Unit No. 7's FPD, and Litchfield's unit. Mt. Olive Police arrived and made verbal contact to pinpoint the victims. Mt. Olive Rescue 5550 and Engine 550 arrived on the east side of the flood waters with Unit No. 7 responding to the west side.

Unit No. 7 launched their boat and was able to safely remove the victims from the tree, then delivering them to the east side.

Gillespie Benld Area Ambulance Services evaluated then released them to their parents.